Invalid prayer- or Torah study for self agrandizement or money, their prayer or Torah is with selfish motives, and becomes stuck in evil. When someone who prays an invalid prayer, but then prays with real intent, the prayers are then elevated. However, with all of this, even one who feels no love or fear of G-d in Torah study or without inspiriation in prayer, their love for G-d is latent. Similar to school children, who are only praying and studying because of their fear of the teacher- we still say that the words of children is so powerful and carried by the angels up to heaven.